Bob Roll, riding for 7-Eleven in the 1986 Tour de France

The 1986 Tour de France finished with American Bob Roll just three spots out of Le Cuspide. With an even number of riders finishing that year, no Point d’Appui could be awarded. The two riders on the cusp of the middle place, however, were Ennio Vanotti of Gis Gelati and Paul Haghedooren of Joker. Vanotti finished 1:45:20 behind the winner of the tour, Greg LeMond.

Roll led the 7-Eleven squad that year and finished three spots ahead of Vanotti. Four years later, however, Roll finished well out of contention for the grey jersey while riding in support of Andy Hempsten, again for Team 7-Eleven. Again, Greg LeMond won the race.

Of the other riders with “roll” in their names, which one would think would be an asset to a race on wheels, only Antonin Rolland, the great racer during the 1950s, came as close to the Point d’Appui as Bob Roll. Rolland finished three spots behind the fulcrum in 1950. Meanwhile Michel Coroller from 1974 and Pierre Rolland from the 2009, 2010 and 2011 tours were well outside the margin of the middle.

Roll on Bobke, roll on.